Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Cephalopoda | Sepiida | Sepiolidae | Rossiinae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Benthic; depth range 32 - 899 m (Ref. 1695), usually 200 - 400 m (Ref. 1695). Temperate; 70°N - 13°N, 33°W - 36°E (Ref. 1695)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean: From East Greenland and Iceland to the Mediterranean and northwest Africa. Temperate to polar.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 10.0 cm ML male/unsexed; (Ref. 122093)

Common mantle length: 2.0 to 6.0 cm (Ref. 1695, p. 184). Common mantle length ranges between 2 and 6 cm (Ref. 3722). Hyperbenthic (Ref. 106087). Found over sandy-muddy areas offshore from 32 to 899 m depth. In the western Mediterranean, observed to prefer deeper waters in winter and in shallower coastal waters during spawning and throughout the rest of the year. Polytelic. Spawning takes place throughout the year, peaking in spring and autumn. Mating behavior involves the male grasping the female's 'neck' region followed by the insertion of its hectocotylus into the female's mantle cavity. Eggs are laid in small clusters of 30 to 40, covered with a hard, violet-red coat; commonly found on bivalve shells of Pinna sp. Or on other solid substrates. Eggs hatch after 45 days in water temperature of about 16°C. Females mature at 8 to 11 months and are larger than males that mature at 7 to 8 months. Longevity is approximately 12 months. Of minor commercial importance, mostly as bycatch in bottom trawls, although generally never abundant. Among countries in the Mediterranean, it is variedly valued for its tasty meat and sold fresh or frozen in fish markets (Ref. 1695).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Members of the class Cephalopoda are gonochoric. Male and female adults usually die shortly after spawning and brooding, respectively. Mating behavior: Males perform various displays to attract potential females for copulation. During copulation, male grasp the female and inserts the hectocotylus into the female's mantle cavity where fertilization usually occurs. Life cycle: Embryos hatch into planktonic stage and live for some time before they grow larger and take up a benthic existence as adults.

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Jereb, P. and C.F.E. Roper (eds.). 2005. (Ref. 1695)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Data deficient (DD) ; Date assessed: 29 March 2009

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial
| FishSource |

Tools

E-book | Field guide

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items

Common names
Synonyms
Predators
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Morphology
Larvae
Abundance

References
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 6.1 - 14.4, mean 9.5 (based on 266 cells).

Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Rossia macrosoma (Chiaie, 1830)